GUWAHATI: The operation against spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency continues for the second consecutive day in Assam. Assam Police’s Special Task Force made its second catch in an ongoing espionage probe. Another man from Bihar was arrested in Guwahati on October 5. The arrests deepened concerns over how deeply a Pakistan-linked network may have burrowed into the region’s sensitive installations. The arrested spy has been identified as Ritesh Kumar Singh, 39, from Begusarai in Bihar. His partner in crime, Abhishek Kumar Singh, also from Bihar, was arrested yesterday from the same locality in the city. Both men were staying in rented rooms in Guwahati’s Satgaon area. The locality is closer to the Narengi Army camp, a vital installation of the armed forces. As per STF source, the idea of both the arrested persons was to remain low-profile and contractual employment in the army camp could be used as cover for gathering information. Both the persons passed vital information of the army installation to the Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO) through online platforms.
The Assam police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested 31-year-old man Abhishek Kumar Singh from Bihar for his alleged links with a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO). He hails from East Champaran district in Bihar. He was picked up by STF from his rented accommodation in Gandhinagar, Satgaon area in Guwahati city during an overnight operation in the intervening night of October 3 and 4.
According to police sources, Singh was in active contact with a Pakistan Intelligence Operative and is accused of passing on sensitive, security-related information concerning defence installations to his Pakistani handlers. The area where he was staying was closed to a vital army installation in the region.
Sources in Assam police said that the arrest did not happen out of nowhere. The case originated from a preliminary input provided by the Gajraj Military Intelligence unit based in Tezpur, which was then shared with the Assam police STF. From there, the IG of STF, working closely with the Sonitpur SSP, turned the initial tip-off into solid, actionable intelligence — eventually leading the team straight to Singh’s doorstep.
Confirming the development, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media that the operation had been carried out based on inputs shared by the Army’s Gajraj Corps, underlining the level of coordination between military intelligence and state police in cracking the case.
Incriminating documents seized
During the operations on 4-5th October, STF personnel recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, and a set of documents described as restricted in nature — evidence that investigators believe could help establish the full extent of their alleged activities of espionage.
A case has been registered on October 4 by STF, and both the arrested persons are currently in STF custody. Investigators are now working to establish exactly what information was shared, how long the alleged communication with the Pakistani handler had been going on, and — crucially — whether a larger network of operatives is involved.
